Container and draw cord combination



1952 R. EISENHARDT ETAL CONTAINER AND DRAW CORD COMBINATION Filed Dec. 13. 1949 j INVENTOR. fl

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 CONTAINER AND CORD COMBINATION Raymond Eiscnhardt, ltidgewood, N. 1., and Jerome J. Gordon, Winneth', Ill.

Application December 13, 1949, Serial No. 132,703

- 1 This invention relates to a container and draw-cord combination,- and more particularly to 2 Claims. (CL 229-51) a container designed to be quickly opened through the pulling of a cutting cord.

Various types of containers have heretofore been developed which have been equipped with cords, stitched or otherwise, placed therein for the opening of the container through the drawing of the cord. Such structures, however, have not been satisfactory, particularly where used with heavy material such as cardboard containers, and where the containers are to be employed for the storing of foods or other types of materials which may be injured by the presence of small amounts of moisture, etc. Cardboard. which is needed for the protection of most food and similar products, presents a serious problem because of the resistance of the cardboard to the action of the cord in tearing through the same, and also because of its tendency to weaken the fibers of the cord in the tearingoperation, causing the cord to be spread and causing it to break. Large cords formed of fibrous material such as cotton, wool, etc., and which might present the necessary strength for the tearing operation, fail as satisfactory draw cords because an unslightly tear is produced, and also because the fibrous material tends to absorb moisturerand creates an opening in the container for the ingress and egress of moisture, gases, etc.

While a relatively large size cord is desired from the standpoint of conveniently grasping the same to draw the cord through the box, there is at the same time a great need for a cord which will in the cutting operation reduce its size so as to present a relatively sharp edge against the cardboard, enabling it to be drawn rapidly through the cardboard to form a sharp cut therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a container and draw-cord combination in which the draw-cord, while of convenient size for grasping, presents against the cardboard to be severed a reduced and sharpened edge, causing it to move quickly and smoothly, like a knife, through the cardboard. Yet another object is to provide a container and draw-cord combination which excludes moisture, vapors, etc., from the interior of the container while at the same time providing a cord structure which contracts and presents a sharp edge against the cardboard in the severing operation. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in illustrative embodiments by the accompanying drawing, in which:

* tainer; Fig. 4. a view similar to Fig. 3, but with container I II.

z Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a draw-cord an container combination embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a broken vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the cord partly drawn about the end of the conthe end of the container severed on three sides, and an end-portion of the container partly opened; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken detail view showing-the action of the nylon-plastic cord in cutting through the cardboard wall; Fig. 6, a broken detail sectional view showing the cord secured to the interior of a container and adjacent an inwardly creased corner of the container; and Fig. '7, a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the comer portion of the container creased outwardly, and with the cord lying within the recess oi the crease.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, l0 designates a cardboard container and II designates a paper cover or wrapper about the In the specific form of box illustrated, the box is provided with inwardlyturned end flaps l2 and an outer end flap l3 having a downwardly-tumed lip H. The paper wrapper is folded over the end of the container in the manner illustrated in Fig. i.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the rear wall of the carton I0 is extended over the end flap 93 to provide an outer end In.

Extending under the top portion of the wrapper II is a Nylon-plastic cord l5, which may be equipped at its end with a plastic button or strip IS. The cord l5 extends under the wrapper it along the diagonal line I! to the rear corner of the container l0, and then extends below the container as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The cord '5 then extends under the front wall of the top portion ill of the carton, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The cord 15 may then be extended, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, back to the rear corner of the carton and opnosite the rear corner from which the tearing of the carton began. v

The cord I 5 which extends along the corner between the rear wall of container l0 and the outer end II), as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. may be secured within the fold of the corner by glue, or by any other suitable means. The cord may be allowed to lie without attachment along the line of the fold, and if desired the end of the cord may besecured by cementing it to the inner wall of the container, or it may be drawn within a cut in the container wall to lodge it firmly ass-sass in position. In some containers it is possible to have effective drawing of the cord where the cord is not attached at all but lies'about a number of surfaces, which thus create a resistance to the drawing of the cord from the container. We believe that best results are obtained where the cord is either anchored throughout its length to the inner portion of the container wall, or the end portion of the cord is anchored to the container wall.

The container, along the edge which is to be severed, may be scored either on the inner or.

the outer side, and such scoring facilitates the severing of the container by the cord along the dotted line. If desired, the line along which the thread is glued or positioned may be creased either inwardly or outwardly. J A perforated line is also found satisfactory, small cuts being formed at spaced intervals along the line of severance. Finally, with some containers, fair results have been obtained where neither creasing, scoring or perforations are employed, but where the cord is drawnagainst the fibers of the container in the direction of the grain of the board. Our best results have been obtained where there is a fold of some form, either in the nature of scoring or creasing or perforating, and particularly where there is a slight cut in the container wall where the cord is placed to initiate the cutting operation. In Fig. 6, the container I, which does not have a paper wrapper, is scored or creased at It and the plastic thread I! is on the reverseside of the score line ll. In this structure, the cord 15 is shown secured by glue it, or cement, along the reverse side of the score line, and the end portion IV of the cord is also secured by cement is to the wall of the carton.

In Fig. 7, the container II is provided with a score line or crease II on the inner side, and

the cord 15 lies in the crease or score line 20.

In this example, the cord I! lies freely within the groove, but the end I! of the cord is secured by a spot of cement It.

The draw-cord II is formed of Nylon, whic is described in Hackh's Chemical Dictionary as a link-chain synthetic'polymeric amide which has recurring amide groups as an integral part of the main polymer chain, and which is capable of being formed into a filament in which the structural elements are oriented in the directionof the axis. The inherent quality of this cord which is found eifective in the .draw-cord combination with the container is the characteristic of the Nylon in stretching to form a reduced cutting edge when placed under stress, and the further tendency of the plastic material to narrow its edge portion nearest the cardboard against which pressure is exerted so as thus to form a knife-like edge. The Nylon may be formed of a single unitary body; or it may be formed of a large number of continuous fibers which are brought together in twisted or other cord relationship. We found that the twisted Nylon cord is particularly effective in that 'the separate threads, when stretched, tend to form individual cuts in the cardboard, and the multiple cuts thus formed tend to form a quick severance of the cardboard fibers.

The Nylon-plastic material described is odorless and does not absorb odors or moisture or other vapors. Since it does not absorb or hold moisture, it does not transmit moisture into the container and there is no tendency for vapors to pass viathecordintooroutofthecontainer. Itisnot 4 susceptible to abrasion as is cotton. linen and like fiber cords, but has the property of stretching to a certain extent, and in the stretched condition presenting an extremely strong cutting edge In the operation of the structure, the drawcord II is pulled, causing it to tear first along the diagonal line II, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This brings the cord I! to the point where it enters the container I. and begins its course under the top walls of the container HI. It will be understood that the cord I I is placed, in the illustration given, under the top flap provided by the paper cover II as a matter of convenience and for 10- cating the draw-cord I! at a desirable point for the beginning of the drawing operation." The paper wrapper ll offers very little resistance to the drawing of the cord II, and the first real resistance encountered is where the cord engages the under-side of the container H adjacent to the rear wall. At this point, the cardboard wall offers sharp resistance, and it is found that the cord i5 sharply narrows, as indicated at 2| in Fig. 5, and further the plastic material tends to flowbackwardly along the rear side of the cord so as to present a somewhat knife-edge-like shape. The result is a cutting or shearing of the cardboard along the folds at three sides of the end of the box, as illustrated best in Figs. 3 and 4. The cover II is cut at the same time that the cardboard top portion is cut, so that the end flap it, which bears the severed end wall III of the container, may be lifted to open the container, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The portion of the cord I! which is grasped is of the normal size of a cord and may be conveniently held in the hand, and the portion of the cord which narrows to the reduced size is that between the hand and the container wall which is being severed. Particularly at the point near the carton wall where the severing action takes place does the plastic cord tend to reduce in size adjacent the cardboard, so as to presenta sharp edge against the board.

- The carton may be formed according to the usual methods of manufacture, and the placing of the cord may be accomplished with accurary and a minimum of expense in the container-forming operation. Tough and heavy containers may be readily opened with a minimum of effort through the use of the structure herein described, while at the same time, by reason of the qualities of the Nylon thread with respect to vapors, moisture, etc., the containers employed may-be used for foodstufis and other commodities requiring dry and sealed containers.

. Following the foregoing specification. we have set forth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of our invention. It will be understood that such details of structure maybe varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim: 1. In combination with a cardboard wrapper united to form a container, a plastic cord secured within the container along a line of severance, and having one end of the cord extended outside the container to provide a, draw-cord portion for grasping, said plastic being formed of a linkchain, synthetic polymeric amide which has recurring amide groups as an integral part of the main polymer chain, and which is capable of being formed into a filament in which the structural elements are oriented in the direction of the axis.

2. In combination with a container having lines that told along one end, a plastic cord secured within the container and lying along a 111104! fold thereof, said cord having a portion thereof extending outside the container to provide a pull- ;cord portion to be grasped, said plastic being a file of this patent:

link-chain, synthetic polymeric amide which has 20 8 recurring amide groups as an integral part of the main polymer chain, and which is capable of being formed into a filament in which the structural elements are oriented in thedirectlon .01

the axis.

' 'RAYMOND mom J.-

nnrmancss m The following references are direeord in the- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,815,800 July 21, 1931 1,994,488 Freeman Mar. 19. 1935 2,315,118 Flizikowski 30, 1943, 2,829,282 Ganz -.---e'.. Sept. 14, 1943 2,402,982 Steenbergen ..'July 2, 1948 2,447,098

Schneider Aug. 17,1948 

